Perdue grabs surprise runoff victory over Kingston in Georgia

posted at 10:41 am on July 23, 2014 by Ed Morrissey

First-time political candidate David Perdue won a surprise victory over favored Rep. Jack Kingston in the Republican runoff for the US Senate nomination in Georgia. Kingston, who had the backing of the US Chamber of Commerce as well as conservatives such as my Salem colleague Erick Erickson, had been leading in almost every poll as the runoff approached. In the end, Perdue’s outsider message may have won the day:

Businessman David Perdue stunned Georgia’s Republican political establishment Tuesday by capturing the party’s U.S. Senate nomination in his first run for office.

The former CEO of Reebok and Dollar General toppled 11-term Rep. Jack Kingston by a narrow margin, setting up a battle of political newcomers with famous kin in the fall. Perdue’s cousin, Sonny, was a two-term governor and Nunn’s father, Sam, was a four-term U.S. Senator.

In addition to his famous last name and lingering political network from his cousin, Perdue deployed $3 million of his own money to back his bid. Still, he was outspent by Kingston and allied Super PACs – including the deep pocketed U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

That leaves the Senate race in Georgia to two political neophytes — Perdue and Michelle Nunn, who has also never run for office until now. Both come from political families, however. Nunn’s father Sam spent four terms in the Senate before retiring in 1996 as a blue-dog Democrat who voted in favor of tort reform and in support of the death penalty and balanced budgets. Nunn’s challenge will be to convince Georgia voters that she’s a chip off the old block while still representing the outsider, anti-establishment perspective.

The general election is likely to be a costly battle between two candidates running as “outsiders,” despite their politically powerful families. Democratic nominee Michelle Nunn’s father, Sam Nunn, represented Georgia in the Senate for 24 years. Perdue’s first cousin, Sonny Perdue, was the state’s first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction, serving two terms from 2003 to 2011.

With Kingston’s defeat, Nunn has lost her chance to run against Washington and the national debt. She is expected, instead, to contrast her background as a nonprofit executive against Perdue’s tenure as a CEO at companies like Reebok and Dollar General.

Georgia is the Democrats’ best chance to pick up a Republican-held seat this fall, which ensures it will be one of the most closely watched races on the map.

Democrats might have hoped for a GOP split such as that seen in Mississippi after a close primary and runoff. If so, they’re doubly disappointed as Kingston wasted no time in endorsing his former opponent:

Kingston immediately pledged his support in a concession call to Perdue and told him “once we combine our two camps we will absolutely be unstoppable.”

In the last two weeks, David Perdue made hay out of walking out of his meeting with the Chamber. He claimed the Chamber wanted him to vote with them 100% of the time. He would not.

That message resonated. Kingston was the career politician in the pocket of the Chamber and would pass amnesty.

Not now. He lost. And he did so largely because David Perdue made Kingston own his Chamber of Commerce endorsement.

Erick’s a lot closer to the race than I am, and the narrowness of the runoff makes this a very plausible analysis. It might be simpler than this, though. Kingston’s been in Washington for 22 years, and with or without the Chamber of Commerce endorsement, that’s baggage in the last few cycles. Georgia voters may just have wanted a reasonable alternative to a career politician, and Perdue managed to make that case for himself in the course of the primary and runoff. Don’t discount the power of populism in this cycle — and it might be fortunate for the national GOP that they defused that argument in Georgia, assuming Perdue doesn’t blow the general election.

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ConstantineXI: With four months to go, anything can happen,
and the GOP, seem to boink it up, I hope not:)

canopfor on July 23, 2014 at 11:44 AM

The border mess isn’t going away in 4 months. People are so pissed off about it that is now the #1 problem according to the polls.

Of course, the LSM pollsters aren’t going to ask questions that would show that the reason why people are upset about the border situation is because they do not want amnesty, but I believe that is indeed the case.

The GOP is polling badly and I believe it’s because they DO NOT take a strong party stand against amnesty under any circumstances. The public isn’t quite as stupid as people would like to think. They can break the code when the meme is overused. “Comprehensive immigration reform” means AMNESTY in the minds of the public.

This constant slamming on the Chamber of Commerce is juvenile – at best.

We should no more make blanket statements about the “Chamber of Commerce” than the left should make about “Members of the NRA”

My local Chamber of Commerce is an active member of our business community and an asset to every business looking to expand.

For me (alone) it is frustrating to constantly see what naysayers so many in the GOP have become.

Where has the positive nature our party members gone. Time to show the public that we lead – we carry a positive vision – we are the way forward.

Quit pissing and moaning about everything – we should like bitter Grandparents.

Just a thought dump – IMO

jake-the-goose on July 23, 2014 at 11:12 AM

In spite of the similar names, there’s no connection between your local Chamber of Commerce and the US Chamber of Commerce.

The US Chamber of Commerce would probably be a positive force, except they seem dedicated to pushing immigration and funding efforts to keep Republican incumbents in office at all costs. In short, they support the RINOs at all costs, and that support largely explains why 2012 wound up not being a big Republican year, and will probably cost the GOP the control of the Senate this year.

It’s a good point, though, that we should refer to the US Chamber of Commerce (USCOC) so we don’t confuse such statements with the local Chambers of Commerce.

This constant slamming on the Chamber of Commerce is juvenile – at best.

We should no more make blanket statements about the “Chamber of Commerce” than the left should make about “Members of the NRA”

My local Chamber of Commerce is an active member of our business community and an asset to every business looking to expand.

jake-the-goose on July 23, 2014 at 11:12 AM

We aren’t talking about the local COCs. The endorsement came from the USCOC and they are the ones that dropped all pretense of being about advancing businesses in favor for pushing amnesty. IMO they don’t realize just how damaging that partisan politicking was for their reputation and credibility.

Realistically, (and I know I’m going to tick some people off in saying this) as long as Obama is President, the illegal immigrants that cross our border will become the newest members of American society, legal status or not.

Repubs have no intention of stopping it because it keeps their largest donors happy.

The rest of us get screwed in the process because we’re expected to give up job opportunities and still carry the economic weight for these newcomers.

I guess the Chamber decided not to get the black vote out this time, like they did in Mississippi. The Chamber had better be careful whose toes they step on, they might be attached to the a** they’ll be kissing in January.

But in terms of what the Republican party stands for now, jake…they need to make that plain and quit straddling the fence.

lineholder on July 23, 2014 at 11:57 AM

Agreed.

At the same time – if this situation is inevitable, as you say – the GOP needs a positive immigration story to tell.

We cannot simply be the party of “no” – or we will fulfill the vision of every immigrant being a democrat.

The world is exploding and a lot of great people will be wanting to come to the U.S. for safe and positive shot as life and success.

We need to fulfill that need and make it possible for people to get in here and live safe and successful life.

We have no visa allowances for entrepreneurs, the most innovative people around the world are starting companies and creating jobs elsewhere. Meanwhile, other countries understand that entrepreneurs are an economic necessity.

While we actively turn away future CEOs, the rest of the world is offering incentives to attract new businesses.

This constant slamming on the Chamber of Commerce is juvenile – at best.

It’s actually quite the converse. It is mostly substantive.

The Chamber of Commerce in Washington has become nothing but a large lobbying organization. They use that power to often push issues which are in their best interests- even if they are detrimental to the voters.

Support for illegal immigration and so-called amnesty are simply the latest issues. As many communities are seeing now, businesses get the benefit of cheap labor and the people foot the bill for everything from increased social services, lower performing schools, an erosion of American culture and the tax increases to go along with it.

While I certainly support my local businesses who actually make a contribution to the community, I don’t support the full-throated members of the national Chamber of Commerce who fully agree with their goals.

Businesses, like the communities they live in, have a choice as to whether they belong to such organizations and support their objectives. So long as the National Chamber of Commerce continues pushing issues which are contrary to my families well-being- they and their members will not get my support.

“There are 14 metro area counties (that folks refer to as Atlanta) that encompass over 50 municipalities and the metro area spans nearly 50 miles in all directions. The actual City of Atlanta is located in Fulton County, with a portion falling in DeKalb.”

We have no visa allowances for entrepreneurs, the most innovative people around the world are starting companies and creating jobs elsewhere. Meanwhile, other countries understand that entrepreneurs are an economic necessity.

While we actively turn away future CEOs, the rest of the world is offering incentives to attract new businesses.

jake-the-goose on July 23, 2014 at 12:02 PM

Dude, why would an entrepreneur outside of the US set up a company inside the US with our current tax system, road blocking regulations, and high employee cost…just to name a few?

Fix those first and then worry about entrepreneurs. Hard for folks to believe, heck hard for me to believe, but I am one of them thar “enter-preeners” with projects/contracts in and outside of the US.

I own a manufacturing business in an area where unemployment is still around 8%. Immigration reform might help lower employee cost (temporarily), but the way I see it is that the real problem that needs to be addressed it welfare reform. There are plenty of businesses that need employees in my area, but they have to compete with the federal government. Why would you work, when you can sit on your ass and watch TV all day?

Georgia voter here. I voted for Kingston. Yeah, he was establishment, but Perdue is no prize either. I wanted Karen Handel. I will vote R in the November election. Michelle Nunn is a fraud and doesn’t have a chance.

Bet
I was for Handel too in the primary. But voted Perdue yesterday. You are correct about the demographic shift.

Honest Lib
*slaps hand against forehead* just got it….Varsity.
Sorry I think of the old PBR jingle when I hear “what’ll ya have.”http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VQoghzFUT7g
Shows where my mind is. I need a beer.

The former CEO of Reebok and Dollar General toppled 11-term Rep. Jack Kingston by a narrow margin, …

I’ve always gotten much more value from shopping at Dollar General or buying a pair of Reeboks than from the dollars the government has taken from me.

I hope Purdue will win the general election and help inject some sense into the corrupted lawmaking process and out of control spending in DC. One Senator can only do so much, but if we can keep electing good ones to replace more of the entrenched bozos in the chamber, eventually the tide will turn.

I had no dog in this fight, but Erickson is a poison pill in most cases.

The limits of special election/runoff/single district polling has been revealed this year. Polls missed the Mississippi primary and runoff, the Georgia primary and runoff, and the VA-7 congressional primary.

The Chisholm group poll should just shut down.

~

Kingston was the “establishment” candidate with 11 terms in Congress. Neither was backed or opposed by Tea Party groups. Perdue did finish first in the primary itself.

Kingston made the runoff close by running up huge margins in southern Georgia. But Perdue was comfortably ahead in most counties outside that region, and ended up with a 2% win.

Erick Erickson’s excuses are hilarious coming from a guy who’s the kiss of death in GOP primaries. I wonder how the candidate he endorsed in the 1st round didn’t manage to beat Kingston or Perdue!

I have no problem with the CoC position on immigration. They want more freedom of labour – and rightly so – and just see a comprehensive deal as the fasted and most plausible way to get there. But what the want isn’t amnesty, they just don’t want unneeded government intervention in the labour market.

Being against a path to citizenship to illegal immigrants or welfare engineered immigration doesn’t mean being with the nativist far-left crazies (many of them who pathetically believe they are conservatives) who want the government to stop people from hiring whoever they want, regardless of race or place of birth, and want to keep Ted Kennedy’s idiotic and socialist immigration system in place (or even replace it with some North Korea style of policy, like the forced abortion kook of NumbersUSA).

The CoC wants cheap labor. Anyone who works for a living should be against that.

Bet on July 23, 2014 at 7:21 PM

What’s the difference between people like you and welfare queens? Surely not one of substance, just one of degree. You’re ready to claim for socialism, to demand government intervention to distort the
market when it’s convenient to you.

Why try to work harder and fight when you can simply demand politicians to fix the market in your favour and just do the minimum, right?

What’s the difference between people like you and welfare queens? Surely not one of substance, just one of degree. You’re ready to claim for socialism, to demand government intervention to distort the market when it’s convenient to you.

The difference? I get up and go to work each day, to a corporation that benefits from my service. In return, I get a salary. Capitalism is not anarchy. Markets can’t be chaos. You can’t have people follow one set of rules and corporations another.

If you think I’m a socialist, then your insane. In addition to being rude and obnoxious.

The difference? I get up and go to work each day, to a corporation that benefits from my service. In return, I get a salary.
Bet on July 23, 2014 at 8:38 PM

Why do you want to limit that right to other people? Why do you want government intervention forcing corporations to hire you and not more productive people?

Capitalism is not anarchy. Markets can’t be chaos. You can’t have people follow one set of rules and corporations another.

I agree. We should have the same set of rules: corporations can hire whoever they want; employees can work for whomever they want.

Why do far-left nutjobs like you feel the need to bring politicians to this simple equation? The answer is laziness. You don’t want competition for jobs. You want artificial scarcity in order to up the value of what you’re selling. You’re a leech, just like welfare queens.

If you think I’m a socialist, then your insane. In addition to being rude and obnoxious.

You want government deciding who companies can or cannot hire in order to protect your job. You might not know you’re a socialist – in fact, I believe you don’t – but you are one.

Georgia voter here. I thought Kingston came across as more honest, while I perceived Perdue to be a premature ejaculator with a denim fetish. Hey, I calls ‘em like I sees ‘em.

However, I do see the appeal in running a candidate that you can’t nitpick their record and make hay over every little procedural vote. SO, I’ll be happily voting for Perdue in Nov. To him, I say, “Good luck, don’t get too excited, and lose the denim jacket.”

Why do you want to limit that right to other people? Why do you want government intervention forcing corporations to hire you and not more productive people?

How do you know they are more productive?

Open borders and a welfare state are suicide. Spare me your ideological BS.

Why do far-left nutjobs like you feel the need to bring politicians to this simple equation? The answer is laziness. You don’t want competition for jobs. You want artificial scarcity in order to up the value of what you’re selling. You’re a leech, just like welfare queens.

I bet you’ve never even had a job.

Competition? Sure, race to the bottom.

As I said, you are full of ideology. Stick it where the sun don’t shine.

I don’t. It’s not up to me to decide. It’s up to the employers. Why would they hire them if you were more productive?

I’m just in favour of letting people decide without politicians meddling in.

I bet you’ve never even had a job.

Competition? Sure, race to the bottom.

As I said, you are full of ideology. Stick it where the sun don’t shine.

Bet on July 23, 2014 at 10:08 PM

Well, I’m a conservative. I believe in free-markets. I don’t believe in socialist policies that infringe anyone’s right to make voluntary agreements.

You don’t have a problem with me. You have a problem with free-market policies and employers/employees being free to make contracts with each other without undue government interference. You’re a leech, you want to use government to protect your interests. And you don’t even have the self-awareness or the honesty to recognize what you are.